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“They think they’ve taken Herman Cain out. They’re still hitting Herman Cain, and now they’ve moved on to Newt [Gingrich],” Limbaugh said this week.

Limbaugh, the most listened-to talker of them all, responded to POLITICO’s initial report of the sexual harassment allegations against Cain by calling the story an “unconscionable racially charged attack.”

When the video of Cain groping for an answer to a question about Libya went viral, he defended Cain and attacked the media for dwelling on it, calling it “just the latest hit piece.”

On Nov. 7, Levin spent much of his show deconstructing the allegations of Cain accuser Sharon Bialek, calling her account of an alleged pass Cain made at her as “amazing” and questioning why “if you think the guy [Cain] was hitting on you … why would you go out to have an Italian dinner” with him?

That kind of support might not expand Cain’s base of support. But it can’t hurt and seems to be creating a floor for Cain’s declining poll numbers, a drop from about 30 percent to the teens that has not been as dramatic as the declines suffered by Rick Perry and Michele Bachmann.

“Talk radio is still a very important factor in the Republican Party,” says veteran GOP pollster David Winston. “It’s probably cushioned his fall.”

But Cain’s surprising rise and fall in the polls shows just how deeply — and perhaps dangerously for Republicans — the two spheres remain entwined.

Michael Harrison, publisher of Talkers magazine, which covers the talk radio industry, says Cain’s Pelosi comment was especially telling. “That was his talk radio influence popping out,” said Harrison.

“Princess Nancy” is a term of talk radio art — used by Sean Hannity as early as 2008, and on Cain’s own talk radio show — and Cain’s use of it on a national debate stage revealed something fundamental about his candidacy: He talks about running as a businessman but acts like a talk radio host much of the time.

“Cain has to learn that when you want to be president of the United States, and you step out of the hyperbolic entertainment world of talk radio and enter the world of presenting yourself to the American public to be president, you have to be careful not to use certain terms that on radio, as entertainment, are acceptable.”

While many Republican contenders have some talk radio experience, Cain is the first really successful talk radio candidate — quick with a quip, relatively uninterested in the intricacies of policy, especially foreign policy — and well-versed in the sense of grievance against the elite, coastal mainstream media that gives the medium its outsider energy.

In the wake of his entry into politics — his unsuccessful 2004 Georgia Senate primary campaign — Cain and three campaign staffers stayed on to build an interlocking media operation with talk radio at its center.

“We knew we needed an outlet, like Sean Hannity has a TV show and a radio show,” said Ericka Pertierra, one of three staffers from Cain’s Senate campaign who stayed on to run Cain’s company, T.H.E. New Voice.

They set up shop in the top corner of a white office building overlooking the Eagles Landing Country Club golf course in the Atlanta suburb of Stockbridge, the same building now completely filled with Cain’s campaign staff. (“The campaign is on the first hole of the golf course, Herman lives on the fifth hole and I live on the 18th hole,” Pertierra said.)

In recent days, at least one top talker – Laura Ingraham – has turned on Cain, even as others, including Rush Limbaugh and Mark Levin stay a pro-Cain course

........Starting to think that Rush and Levin want Obama to win in 2012............these two guys have made a TON of money in the last three years with Obama in office.........what in the world would they have to whine about if Romney was prez and we had a GOP controlled Congress ? .......hummmm

Plus in 2008 Limbaugh endorsed Romney..............now Rush has flip flopped because Romney in 2012 is the same Romney as in 2008...........it must be the Obama ratings and money, I suspect.

Hannity likes Romney as does Ann Coulter who know that Romney/Rubio is the ONLY Republican candidate that can really beat Obama/Biden in November 2012, its perfectly clear..........

One thing is for sure the Ideologues who infest our broken Free Press continue to manulate the American people with news that's generated and not reported. That's a big issue in a Free Society........

Romney-the Fiscal Conservative/Rubio- the Social Conservative..........this is the commonsense level-headed, smart, solid, team that can and will get America moving Foward in January 2013.........

Is Romney's problem with the far right more about attitude than Conservatism?

Michael Medved seems to think so.

He points out in an article, that back in 2008, Romney had the support of much of the far right:

“I think now, based on the way the campaign has shaken out, that there probably is a candidate on our side who does embody all three legs of the conservative stool, and that’s Romney,” Rush Limbaugh told his huge audience. “The three legs of the stool are national security/foreign policy, the social conservatives, and the fiscal conservatives.” After Rush highlighted the de facto endorsement in his newsletter under the headline “One Candidate Now Represents All Three Legs of Conservatism,” the rest of syndicated talk radio—Sean Hannity, Mark Levin, Michael Savage, Glenn Beck—largely followed suit. Laura Ingraham introduced Romney at CPAC as a “true conservative” and “a conservative’s conservative.”

Romney hasn't changed in the past 4 years. He hasn't taken any stances that could cause conservatives to look elsewhere. If anything, just the opposite

On no major issue did he move to the center in the last four years, and on several, such as Medicare reform and environmental regulation he moved decisively, even boldly, to the right.

Medved's argument is that conservatives are so upset with Obama and where he's taken the country, that he thinks that perhaps Romney doesn't outwardly channel that anger with his calm demeanor.

In this atmosphere Romney looks suspect to many activists on the right not because he isn’t conservative enough but because he isn’t angry enough. His real problem isn’t a question of ideology, it’s a matter of attitude. Mitt can’t keep himself from looking self-possessed and unflappable, cool and collected, reasonable and restrained.

Medved may be on to something.

Romney is not a loudmouth or a blowhard. Just calm, competent, intelligent, has the right experience, well versed on all the facts........oh, and PRESIDENTIAL

Pro-libico would like nothing better than to lynch Herman. It is time for the good people of this country to finally take a stand against libbers. We will not tolerate their hatred anymore. Either love your country or leave it. On our side, we love America and no one will ever doubt that again after 2012!!!

Pro-libico would like nothing better than to lynch Herman. It is time for the good people of this country to finally take a stand against libbers. We will not tolerate their hatred anymore. Either love your country or leave it. On our side, we love America and no one will ever doubt that again after 2012!!!

poor stupid republicans obama will wipe the floor with romney..you idiots dont even want him what the hell makes you think anybody else does..if you people were not so full of hate and blindly arrogant you would see there is no way anyone is close to your isolated littel hate fest with americas first african american president.if all the republican big guns like jeb bush mike huckabee.george pataki.chris christi.all ran from obama what the hell you think obama is gonna do for this frail little flip flopper..cosponcer of obama care..i see the largest landslide in united states history..and statements like the electrified fence.you dumb stance on immigration.has givin obama a lion share of the latino vote..he already has 85 percent of the black vote.he has libril white vote..39 percent of independance..all you people got is a bunch of wall street types and a few tea partyers..you guys are toast.....OBAMA BIDEN 2012.

advice for Mr Herman Cain...........please do not give up. REGROUP....I think you've had a really crash course on POLITICS in this country today..............as well as a really NICE INTRO to the TACTICS OF THE MAIN STREAM MEDIA as well as their HIRED gun......GLORIA ALLRED.........we all know what she'll do for a buck......................the libs in California SUCCEEDED in getting Meg Whitman's defeat, with alot of MANUFACTURED publicity. Now , poor California is stuck with a Mantra chanting ex - hippie (jerry brown) as governor. Meg Whitman was a highly accomplished businesswoman. Ceo of Hewlett Packard, founder of EBAY................

you only have to google Allred's past clients to see who she defends......butttttt she is extremely wealthy for it.............basically a high-priced political h..............r.....

Please regroup. You have the intellingence, courage, humor, and come across as a quick-learner when it comes to foreign policy. After all........the dems are willing to accept a brain-damaged candidate, a 90 year old as speaker of the house, a widow who suffered a tragic loss of her husband, which made her deserved of her position in congress, and let us not forget all the wives who have either filled out their deceased husband's terms, or their father's....................OH.....LETS NOT FORGET THE KENNEDYS......

SOOOOOOOOOOOOOO REGROUP.................LEARN FROM THIS...........WE ARE STILL BEHIND YOU..............YOU ARE NOT THE TYPICAL INSIDE THE BELTWAY CANDIDATE......like Newt, Romney, etal.....................we the American people are REPULSED AT THE DIRECTION OUR COUNTRY HAS TAKEN......we want a complete change in DC....................

We need your business experience. After all.....THE ITALIANS HAVE JUST INSTALLED AN ENTIRE NEW GOVERNMENT.............without traditional politicians............THEY HAVE A MASSIVE DEBT PROBLEM TO DEAL WITH................and that will take a BUSINESSMAN WITH VAST KNOWLEDGE, AND CONNECTIONS.................we need to grow business..............NOT GOVERNMENT.....

SOOO PLEASEEEEEEEEEEEE PLEASE don't let the likes of POLITICO AND THE DOUBTERS DEFEAT YOU......................YOU ARE STRONGER THAN THAT.......................

Moderates and Conservatives are turning to Mitt Romney because Mitt Romney can beat Obama.

My next door neighbor's autistic kid can beat Obama. I believe right now the nation would rather have him in office, as he makes more sense than the Obama does. Let's not rush to just put anyone in office. We have an almost guaranteed victory ahead for the White House, Senate, and House. Let's make sure we pick the most conservative candidates. This is our chance, let's not blow it!

Actually, from what I've seen Politico has it all wrong on this one. The talkshow guys weren't giving him the time of day until every other call they received insisted on bringing his name into the picture.

Actually, from what I've seen Politico has it all wrong on this one. The talkshow guys weren't giving him the time of day until every other call they received insisted on bringing his name into the picture.

It is obvious that the talkers are defending the entire line against the lies and propagada techniques from the progressives. Rush and Hannity have always been Mitt Romney supporters and like Bill O'Reilly and Ann Coulter they will soon go on offensive with Mitt Romney to defeat Obama..